In a recent podcast episode, the movie star spoke at length about the turmoil. “It was a hell of a scare. A complete loss of control, a 100 percent feeling of ‘I have no control’. I have no way of managing the situation,” said McConaughey, who appeared to be unbuckled. There was no warning before the turbulence. When it was all over after a few seconds, mixed feelings prevailed, from “ghost silence” to nervous fits of laughter.
The plane McConaughey was on suddenly fell 1,200 meters, according to media reports. According to a Wall Street Journal article, the US Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation is still ongoing more than a month after the incident. According to some experts, such flight turbulence will occur much more frequently in the future. Responsible for this is the jet stream, which is changing.
Perceived “holes”
“Air pockets” are commonly referred to when the plane suddenly begins to drop. Of course, the hole in the air doesn’t exist. It is clear air turbulence, as it is called in technical jargon. These usually occur when two adjacent air masses have different speeds or wind directions. At high altitudes, i.e. where the jet stream runs and where there are also passenger aircraft, these wind shears occur more frequently.
The turbulence perceived as “air pockets” is dangerous because, unlike other phenomena such as a thunderstorm, it cannot be located with the naked eye or with radar. So you can’t dodge them in time. According to AustroControl, the turbulence is “treacherous” and “dangerous”. Most of the time it occurs “in clear, transparent air, without warning for the aircraft crossing such a zone”.
Several studies in the past have shown that wind shear could increase in the future due to global warming. This makes it possible for the jet stream to become more unstable, which in turn increases the risk of clear air turbulence, according to a recently published study by the University of Reading.
In summary, it can be said that “moderate” air pockets will increase over the North Atlantic in all seasons in the future, according to the authors of the study, which the online portal Futurezone had already reported on. The increasing instability will have consequences for the aviation industry, “since more flights are disrupted and the damage and costs increase,” according to the researchers.
Stay buckled
A study with similar results was published in 2019. It said that since 1979, wind shear in the jet stream has increased by 15 percent. At higher altitudes, the climate crisis is changing temperature patterns, leading to more wind shear, Paul Williams of the University of Reading was quoted as saying in the Wall Street Journal. His research predicts that the amount of clear air turbulence will more than double over the next three to six decades.
Injuries from turbulence have so far been rare. According to the US Transportation Security Administration, 163 people were seriously injured in turbulence between 2009 and 2022. Flight attendants are particularly affected. You are at a higher risk of being injured. Experts, airlines and air traffic safety authorities recommend that you remain buckled during the flight.
McConaughey’s Lufthansa flight from Austin (US state of Texas) to Frankfurt in early March landed unscheduled in Washington due to the turbulence. A company spokeswoman said seven passengers on the plane were slightly injured. Last December 2022, 20 people had to be taken to the hospital after a turbulent Hawaiian Airlines flight.
Experts told NBC that the airline industry has several technologies at its disposal to adapt to changes in turbulence. Technologies will also soon be developed to help predict areas of turbulence.
